Dumfries region summer holiday

[PhilippaPhilpot]

Hi all,

I'm considering having a family holiday this summer to the Dumfries area. Explored lots of the UK but never this area! Found a nice self catering cottage just outside of Dumfries, but wanted to make sure there's enough nearby to fill a week. Please hit me up with your recommendations for attractions and beaches. I have NT membership so I believe that can be used in Scottish NT properties?

Two adults will be going, with two children aged 6 & 12.

Thank you ☺️

We have holidayed there many times are are never bored. Our favourites include the Galloway Forest (the red deer park is fun for kids but loads of walks etc), Cocoa Bean Company, Gatehouse of Fleet, Gem Rock Museum, Devils Porridge Museum, Mull of Galloway, Portpatrick, Kirkcudbright, Kippford and Rockcliffe, Caerlavorick Castle, Castle Kennedy but we are quite outdoorsy. There’s also Threave Castle, Dumfries itself, Cream of Galloway, Laggan activity centre and loads more castles, beaches and places of interest.

Hi. I live nr Carlisle so know a little bit about the area.
Sandhills beach is lovelyrockcliffe village on the coast for rock pools

Kirkudbright and castle Douglas are nice towns.
Galloway forest park
mabie farm park
cream of galloway sells amazing burgers and ice cream made on sight. Outdoor adventure areas
Cocoa bean chocolate factory
Have fun!

There is an outdoor activity centre at Loch Ken where you can do loads of stuff including sailing, archery etc.

Yes cream of Galloway is fab

Wild goats near the Murray Monument, some stone circles, if you're into that sort of thing, Sweetheart Abbey, Drumlanrig Castle, Grey Mare's Tail waterfall, Crawick Multiverse, Andy Galsworthy's Striding Arches, Kirkcudbright for art, Wigtown for books…

Super, thanks all 😁

I love Thornhill. Thomas Tosh cafe, Drumlanrig Castle (adventure playground) and take the road over to Moniaive (which I also love). Activity centre at Loch Ken for water stuff, dinner at the Clachan Inn in New Galloway, walk up Screel Hill (but watch out for parking because tree felling has shut the car park). Queensberry Marbles at Durisdeer kirk.

Mull of Galloway is 80 miles from Dumfries!

So what? It's a great day trip. Much of the drive is along the A75 so quite quick.

Just a word of warning that cream o Galloway seem to have shut all their play (indoor and out) and are now focusyon food and Laggan outdoors seems to have gone completely.

Such a shame as they were both fantastic. It's still a great area but I wa quite sad to see them gone

Thats a shame it was great for kids

A 160 mile long day trip sounds a hell of a long way to go while on holiday. Same distance to go to Edinburgh or Glasgow from Dumfries. If you want lovely cliffs, I’d recommend the Heughs near Auchencairn.

my DC enjoyed the crazy golf they now have at Cream o Galloway the other week. The people behind them were somewhat more skilled than they were though which stressed them out 😁

So don't do it. Crazy golf doesn't float my boat but I can appreciate we all like different things.

I was only pointing out it’s a long way from Dumfries 😂 D&G is a very long country. Clackmannanshire it is not.